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The Starter Problem – 2020-2021

John Rice

8/8/8/2P3R1/5B2/2rP1p2/p1P1PP2/RsQ1K2k

Mate in 2

1.Qe3?  (2.Qxf3#)

1...Sd2  2.Kxd2#
1...fxe2 2.Qf3,Qh3,Qe4#
1...Rxd3!

1. Kf1? 1...Sd2+!

1.exf3? (2.Ke2#) 1...Rxd3! or 1...Rxc2!

1.Qb2!   ()

1...R~   2.Qh8#
1...fxe2 2.Qb7#
1...Sd2  2.Kxd2#
1...Sa3  2.O-O-O#

When the King and Rook appear on their original squares, it is always assumed that neither have moved, unless one of them can be proved to have moved to reach the position on the board.

The Starter was published in national newspapers and appeared on their websites. 947 Solutions were submitted, 635 of them correct, and 312 incorrect. The numbers for each incorrect solution submitted were as follows: -

1.exf3 115
1.Kf1 63
1.Qe3 39
1.Rxb1 25
1.Qd2 20
No Solution 13
Other Pawn Moves 12
Other Rook Moves 10
Other King Moves 6
Bishop Moves 5
Other Queen Moves 4
Total Incorrect Solutions 312

Developed and maintained by Brian Stephenson.